So many quality albums were released in June that it has become necessary to review more than just one or two this week. In addition to the Beach Boys, Neil Young and Patti Smith, many lower- profile artists recently issued worthwhile works, a few of which are explored below.

Motion City Soundtrack: ‘Go’

Minneapolis quintet Motion City Soundtrack has returned to the indie label Epitaph after its one-album stint on Columbia in 2010. Does this move to the punk rock-oriented label signal a return to a harder- edged, more uncompromising sound? Afraid not.

“Go” turns out to be this melody-driven band’s poppiest and most accessible work yet, displaying a lighter touch than its predecessor, “My Dinosaur Life.”

For an album with several songs whose lyrics brood about mortality — try “Everyone Will Die” that’s a pretty neat trick. The string quartet-supported “Die” might be the album’s best track, confronting the inevitability of death and asking, “Then who you gonna love in the meantime/Before it catches you?”

The vocals from Justin Pierre and Matthew Taylor sound more polished and nimble than ever; both have become accomplished, expressive singers.

The album, co-produced by the band with Ed Ackerson, has a light, airy feel, which makes the occasional emphatic bursts of guitar and keyboards even more effective. “Go” floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Bouncing Souls: ‘Comet’

New Jersey’s Bouncing Souls has never sounded more infectiously upbeat than on “Comet” (Rise Records). Gone are the more ambitious forays into Springsteen-influenced rock — this time around, the band romps through its uncomplicated three-chord blasts with joyful fervor.

Standout rockers include just about anything on the album, but “DFA,” the title cut and the irresistible sing-along “Fast Times” deserve special praise.

When a song titled “We Love Fun” lives up to its title lyrically and musically, you know a band is on the right track. Speaking of tracks, there’s not a weak one on “Comet.”

Catch the Bouncing Souls July 12 at the Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles, where they’ll be on the bill with the Menzingers.Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Amanda Mair: ‘Amanda Mair’

It takes a pretty strong effort to melt my indifference toward Scandinavian pop chanteuses, but the eponymous debut (Labrador) of Amanda Mair had me at hello.

The Swedish singer has just turned 18, but already has drawn comparisons with Kate Bush. She may bear a superficial vocal resemblance, but Mair is no Kate to these ears, lacking Bush’s off-kilter artistic bent.

Rhett Miller: ‘The Dreamer’

Rhett Miller, the lead singer of alt-country band the Old 97’s, has steeped “The Dreamer” (Maximum Sunshine), his fifth solo album, heavily in country influences. It has more steel guitar and weepy strings than his first four solo albums combined.

Miller’s clear, pure vocals remain impressive, no more so than on the acoustic love song “Marina” and the dreamy shuffle “Swimmin’ in Sunshine.”

Rosanne Cash contributes vocals on three tracks, including a featured duet with Miller on “As Close as I Came to Being Right.”Rating: 3 stars

The Rocket Summer: ‘Life Will Write the Words’

Texan singer-songwriter Bryce Avary, who performs as The Rocket Summer, has toughened up his once-twee sound over the years. “Life Will Write the Words” (Aviate) contains tracks that are stronger both instrumentally and lyrically than his previous works.

Sam Gnerre has worked for the Daily Breeze in Torrance since 1984. He grew up in Fontana, Calif., and is a graduate of Fontana High School. He earned a B.A. in English literature from the University of California, Riverside, and a Master's degree in library science from UCLA. He was hired at the Daily Breeze in 1984 to help with the conversion of the paper's manual clip file system to an online database of archived stories. Currently, he writes the paper's weekly News Quiz, does a weekly music CD review, and researches and writes local history articles for the South Bay History blog, in addition to his current duties as a night website editor for the Southern California News Group.